Now gallows - and an alternative

Some people tonight brought gallows in Syntagma sq. Guess for whom.

In the open forum later, a speaker stated that we shouldn't express ourselves like that because it denotes violence, and a principle of this outcry is non-violence. I guess bringing the gallows is just a symbolism.


I remembered, a story we were told some years ago in Heidelberg castle. Back in the, more democratic than today, medieval era, WCs were placed on the walls of the castles, like balconies. The "products" were dropped in the terrace below the WC-balcony. So, when the public was not very fond of the local ruler, the punishment was to drop him in the afforementioned terrace. It's definitely not violent, as no pain is induced, but if I were a ruler I would be very very careful...

I think we should consider this as an alternative to gallows...

Now women against the debt

We owe nothing, we pay nothing

Now Pagalos

Meet the vice chairman of the greek cabinet. His face decorates this beautiful banner. This guy, some months ago stated: "We altogether (i.e. all greeks) "ate" the money". No we didn't. The politicians and their friends got the money and the people pay for that. This is stated in the banner, in a funny expression, which I can't translate efficiently. Any good translation welcome!

Now people pissed off

Spotted on a statue on Syntagma sq.

The sun is the logo of the "Socialist" political party that is in power (so much power that feels almost like a dictatorship) right now in the country.

Now parliament

I am wondering, when the time comes for them to go (to hell preferably), where will the helicopter land?

Now still awake

Dreams are keeping us awake.

Now people still arriving

Syntagma metro station.

The time is 22:00 and people continue to arrive in this unique demonstration. The exact number of people is unknown, it is estimated to be more than 50.000.

Now European Revolution: Athens

Image: screengrab from online streaming. We do not own the rights.

29 May 2011
The call for the greatest gathering was heard. People are gathered in front of the parliament in great numbers, greater than any other day. I wish I was there. Slogans and banners in many european languages, as well as flags from Spain and Portugal.

People all over europe are gathering in central squares demanding real democracy. It is difficult to get any news, as major newspapers do not cover the subject. I guess it is of no interest if it is peaceful.

Live streams:
Athens
Madrid
Paris

Leave a comment if you have more links!

Phoenix

Sometimes, when a critical point is reached ignition starts. And you cannot stop it no matter how hard you try. You just have to let the fire burn everything and only then you can start over. Remember the old Phoenix story?

(check out day 3 in our view of the greek revolution)

Now pillow

We woke up! What's up?
Courtesy D.

Now under the rain

Despite the rain, people still remain in front of the parliament, sharing umbrellas.

Now more peoples to wake!

Do you see the italian flag in the middle of the picture?
It says something like:
"Zitti che svegliamo gli italiani"

like the call the greeks got from the spanish ;)

Time for the south to rise!

Follow up by Kostas: If you can't see the Italian flag, there is a much bigger French one... saying more or less the same in French! Sorry! I couldn't approach more!

Now day 2

They are not idiots, they are traitors.
Day 2 is rainy, but people are here.

Now greek parliament (2)

Sotiria please follow with the meaning of this gesture! (Photo courtesy D.)

Follow up by Kostas. Came home before Sotiria noticed, so...

This gesture, is known as Mootza (Μούτζα) and is an expression of insult.


A lot of Mootzas were shown to the greek parliament and its "residents" for obvious reasons.

People called the politicians "Thieves" and "Traitors". Is Greece changing?

Now greek parliament

People expressed their indignation.
(Photo courtesy I.)

Now Syntagma sq.

The party continues...

Now peaceful awakening.

Sound from Spain reached Athens.

conGRADs!!!

Thumbs Up for Costas defending successfully his PhD Thesis today!

It's about time

tik tik tik tik

Close to the end

The frustration just before the big finale.
The confusion. The anxiety.
Stay on your path end you will reach your destination.

If you get tired remember that in your backpack your are carrying all the love and the support of your family, your friends, and mine. Along with our best wishes for your name-day!

Perfect wave

If you speak to a surfer, it's all about catching that perfect wave. Unless they are in Munich. Instead of worrying about catching a wave, and in fact worrying about finding a wave at all, they created an almost standing wave in the English garden. They look like they are enjoying it, and watching them is also quite a sight! Don't miss them if you are passing by!

Sunshine

Hallo Sonnenschein!

Sailship

I have heard a proverb. I don't really live by it, but there are certain situations, when it comes to my mind and stays there for some time. "Harbours are made for ships, but ships are not made for harbours"

From the Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary:
sail (n): a sheet of canvas or other material against which the wind blows and drives a ship or boat through the water.
sail (v): to travel on water in a ship or boat using sails or engine power.

This sailship was spotted in 2002 when I and a good friend travelled to Mytilene, and we sailed on an engine propelled passenger carrier.

Turtle soup

Turtles, turtles, turtles!

Spotted in the Attic Park, in Attica of course! Many millions of years ago... but I guess the turtles will be still alive ;)

Anafiotika

Classic example of Cycladic architecture.

Wait... what? We are in Athens? Just under the Acropolis?

According to my sources, when Otto came in Athens to become King of Greece, he asked the best marble (or was it stone?) technician from the islands to come and work for him. This person was originally from Anafi. Otto wanted him to stay in Athens and asked him to pick a place in the city to make his home and bring his family and friends. Looking out of the palace's window he picked a spot just under the Acropolis. The newcomers, made their homes using the same style as they had on the island. This beautiful architecture hasn't been corrupted for almost 150 years now. It is an oasis in the modern Athens, full of cement.

Tomorrow, I will show you the view they enjoy from that spot!

Riverius Magnificus

Well I realized I haven't posted the picture I am the most proud of! So, there you go, I give you a river in the Alps! It is a stack of 8 frames.

The young photographer (me) was so excited when she took the pictures and made the stack (on Linux). Like a true astronomer! Many of you have seen it on facebook already, but there are some new friends among the viewers :)

Until next time!

Almost there

Greek idiom of the day: "Φάγαμε τον γάιδαρο και μας έμεινε η ουρά" (We ate the donkey and only the tail is left!)

Used in cases (like these days), when you try to finish something that you do not enjoy at all. As comforting words you often hear the aforementioned idiom. It means, that the hard part is done, You shouldn't give up, You are almost there! :)

Donkey spotted at the Stuttgarter zoo (2005?,2006? 2007!).

Like Magic

It is almost like magic that these tiny and delicate flowers will transform in only a few months into juicy pears.

For serving: Chill under cold running water (preferably from a spring) and consume under direct sunlight.

Sea urchins

Αχινοί, sea urchins, Seeigel, echinoidea, échinidés. Lots of them!
According to a National Geographic documentary, they are among the first moving animals ever created on Earth. As strange as it may sound, once I had a nightmare involving one of these animals...

Their presence in the sea, means that the ecosystem is thriving! So, it's a safe place to swim but take care not to step on one of these little guys (been there, done that :o) ). Some people like also to eat them but I find very cruel the way they have to be killed.

Historic places

It has been a while, but here we are again.

This is a view to the Aegean from the picturesque St. George chapel near Zaganiari.

In the background you can see the uninhabited Gyaros island (or Giura). People who struggled for freedom from the Nazi occupation, after liberation were exiled there as political prisoners in the years 1945-49. The same fate was met be people who somehow thought that the military regime of 1967-1973 was not a perfect government. The prison buildings were built by the prisoners themselves .Some photos of the place may be found here. Today, virtually nobody visits the island and the structures are left to collapse slowly. I think it is kind of shame.

On the left you can see the Zagora plateau, where the geometric settlement, with the same name, flourished in prehistoric times. The site is unmarked and not visited.
A couple of kilometers on your right, not visible in this photo, was the place where the neolithic settlement of Strofilas flourished. Nowadays a rubish dump is placed next to it, despite a couple of supreme court verdicts. And even after the collapse of the dump this February, the rubish is thrown through it, straight into the sea.

Anyway I am still fascinated by the cyan - blue - green landscape.

Cookie: An expression of Andros locals to describe someone with great eysight is "Βλέπει τον κόχυλα στα Γιούρα" (He can see a Triton's trumpet on Gyaros).

Red hard boiled eggs

Another Easter custom is to dye eggs red on Good Thursday and crack them on Easter. The color symbolizes Christ's blood. The person whose egg is the last one standing uncracked on the table is supposed to be lucky.

Do you notice anything unusual on the picture?

Easter candle

Remember the holy light?
It is a rather new custom to decorate the candles of the children (and children at heart) using toys or flowers.

The most amazing candles I have ever seen are for sure these two! Made especially for the two lucky girls by their (and our) good friend (more info and creations here).

Now freddo cappuccino

Easter aftermath... Drinking cold coffee under the sun!

Now ovelias

Lamb barbeque as promised. Christ Is risen! Guten Apetit!

Δεύτε λάβετε φώς (Come and get the light )

As every year the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem will receive the holy light inside the holy tomb in Jerusalem, as a divine gift towards the faithful. The light will travel to Greece by airplane in time for the Resurrection Mass tonight.

The trick is to return home with your candle (λαμπάδα - lampada) still burning! There, the head of the household will mark the threshold creating a cross with the smoke from the candle.

Now nice weather

Enjoying the nice weather with friends in Kairi sq. Andros.

Now divine passion

After the crussifixion mass, in the middle of the night, women in Zaganiari, and all the Orthodox parishes, decorate the epitaphios (the holy tomb) with flowers. Tomorrow it will host the body of the Lord.

Rivergull

Another member of the avian population of Munich. Spotted over Isar.
I was very fascinated that gulls flew over the bridge, impressively close to pedestrians that crossed it.

By the way, the word "avian" sounds great, doesn't it?

Rebirth

It is this time of the year again, when we celebrate the rebirth of nature. This has been celebrated during the centuries under many names. In the 21st century, we call that in Greece Πάσχα, which I've been told that it means crossing in Hebrew. That is crossing from death to life.

I do know that greek celebrations of Πάσχα are famous, since they involve good weather, lamb barbecue, and of course dancing! I promise to upload relevant pictures in the following days, faithful to the stereotypes.

I start with the rebirth of the wild nature in Peloponnese, Easter 2006.

Between the giants

And still doesn't bother to grow. I like it...
Spotted in Ellinorosson, Athens.

Tsourekia reloaded

One of the things an experimentalist physicist knows very well, is that in order for a result to be robust the outcome should be the same no matter how many times he/she repeats the experiment. This is the reason why I was eager to repeat the tsoureki-making experiment. You can see the results of the first experiment along with the experimental procedure (a.k.a. recipe) here.

Oh yeah! This is one definitely became one of my "specialties".

p.s. If you think that they look a bit large you are right. Lesson learned: 1 big tsoureki = 4 small tsourekakia

Starkbierfest

Talk about creativity... the bavarians have created a special bier to drink during lent. The alcohol content is slightly higher than the normal bier, but the nutrition content is a lot higher to keep them satisfied while consuming less food. I have been told that 1 litre of bier is equivalent to 12 loaves of bread! Don't know if it's true or not. Anyway, they do have special permission from the Pope to drink this bier during this holy time.

Starkbiefest (=strong beer festival) is the secret beer festival in Bavaria since hardly any tourists know about it, in contrast to the extremely famous Oktoberfest. Notice the traditional dresses the women are wearing. This picture is from last year at Paulaner's feast, which I think is the most famous one in Munich.

Prost!

Now in Zografou campus

 

I like spring...

Water-falling

Those who know, say that the German part of the Alps is the least beautiful. I don't have an opinion on the other parts of the mountains, but I really enjoyed the hiking last June. And I found many things around me that made me (and the fellow photographers :) ) use my camera.

I one of the billion pictures we took that day, was this beautiful waterfall.

Going to work

Imagine you lived somewhere where you could walk to work and the path looked something like this.

Welcome to Garching bei Muenchen!


Caution: Do not attempt this during the winter. Keine Winterdienst.

Free the puppet

This puppet was tied on a door in Anafiotika, Athens. I used my lens to kidnap her but I turned out to imprison her in my photo album for more than 7 years. I guess now I should let her free in the internet.

-13

What a strange country this is!

Yesterday the temperature at this hour was 22oC, today 9oC. How can the temperature drop 13 degrees so easily? O_o

Anyway, this picture is from last year when I had just bought my camera and I was wondering around in Garching admiring the nature. More pictures to follow!

Third time's a charm

It is the third time I try to make this Easter bread/Zopf/τσουρέκι. I tried three different recipes but the most successful is by far this one.

Who wants to taste?

Beer on the street

This blog supports polish beer. And is only lost in poker on April fools day.

Spotted in Lublin.

Goodbye...

Dear all,

last night wasn't a very good night for us.
After a very bad round in poker, we found ourselves loosing quite a lot. The only thing we had left to bet was our blog. Murphy's law triumphs once more and we lost our blog just like that.

You will not hear anymore from us. It was a great ride. Farewell.